BRENTWOOD, NEW YORK — Samantha Garvey, a senior as Brentwood High School has managed to become one of the remaining 300 semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search this year. Her research focused on mussels and her discovery that they change the thickness of their shells if a predator such as crabs are introduced. Why is Garvey’s achievement so impressive? Because she, and her entire family, are homeless and rely on a local homeless shelter.

SLAB CITY, CALIFORNIA — Since the housing bubble burst, nearly 4 million American homes have been lost to foreclosure. Now 1.6 million children will be homeless at some time during the year — 38 percent more than at the start of the recession. As CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy explains, unemployment has driven some families to the southern California desert.

SEMINOLE, FLORIDA — Two homeless Seminole County children who captured the hearts of TV viewers nationwide with their optimism and sincerity are receiving an all-expenses-paid trip — to college. Stetson University, a nationally ranked private school in DeLand, announced Thursday that it’s offering full rides to the Metzger kids, featured in Sunday’s “60 Minutes” show about families living out of their vehicles.

COCOA, FLORIDA — Phil Campbell, a former Marine, was homeless. With help from the National Veteran’s Homeless Support, he now has an apartment, a car, a job and is attending BCC. He works at the Chevron store on US 1 just south of the Beachline.

I Am Waters is proud to announce our partnership with HPD’s Homeless Outreach Team, founded and operated by Officers, Giraldo, Terry and Wick. Their mission is to make a human connection built on mutual trust and to offer support to our city’s homeless by providing assistance with housing; obtaining I.D’s; and step-by-step guidance, and help, with the obstacles that block the path for so many. They have facilitated housing for numerous homeless individuals in the short time they have been in operation.

HOUSTON (KTRK) — Life is not easy for servicemen and women when they return home after months, even years of war.
Fortunately, there are many organizations to help them. Now one group is using something as simple as a bottle of water to inspire our vets.
The government estimates more than 100,000 veterans are homeless. They live on the streets or in transitional housing, and while many of us take it for granted, they don’t have easy access to the most basic necessity–water.

The average homeless person in San Francisco is male, has lived in the city for at least 10 years, was formerly a renter and is currently faced without housing for the first time, according to a new city-sponsored survey of homeless shelter residents.

Many may know that both single and two-parent families, not individuals, represent the changing face of homelessness in the United States today. One variation we don’t often expect is for that single parent to be a father. Please click here to view the story of Maso Mason Jr. and son.